Desk appliance



Jan, 25, 1927. 1,615,230

J. ORTH DESK APPLIANCE Filed March 25, 1926 IN KEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 25, 1927.,

PATENT tor-Fine.

.J'OEL ORTH, OF WEST BROWNSVILLE, ,PENNSYLVANIA.

DESK APPLIANCE.

Application filed March 25,1926. Serial No. 97,264.

My invention refers to improvements in a desk appliance adapted to be used in variously different ways, so as to embody in unitary form a variety of otherwise separate articles of common use.

"Generally stated, it comprises a ruler or straight edge in the form of a standard or base, on which are mounted an ink well or holder of special construction, a blotter holder and blotter, anda further feature ofconstruction adapting it for use as a penholder.

In the accompanying drawing, showing one preferred embodiment ofthe invention:

F 1g. 1 is a plan view of the device with a portion of the blotter broken away;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line III III of Fig 1;

I Fig. 4 is a view in end elevation;

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing one of the slidably mounted closing-abutments for the ink well tube.

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view similar to Fig 2 showing said abutments adjusted in wardly towardthe middle, and also additionaldepressi-ble abutments Fig. 7 is a partial plan view of Fig 6, showing the depressible abutments;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view of'the cup of the ink well, of modified construction; and

Fig. 9 is a viewof the device in edge elevation showing'it in tilted position.

In the drawings, the main base 2, which is preferably in the form of a ruler or straight edge, extends longitudinally and laterally to a sufficient extent to provide a substantial base capable of being set on any supporting surface, as a desk or table top.

'Thebase is preferably beveled, as at 3, for application of inch or other denominational marking, and is preferably'rounded at the opposite lower corner 4 to facilitate backwardtilting in using the blotter.

The beveled edge is adapted to be used as a straight edge for ruling in the ordinary way, as'on any surface or-on the page of a ledger or other account book.

The middle portion of base 2 is recessed or channeled from one end to the other, as at 5, providing a receiving groove for the rubber tubing 6 constituting the main reservoir of the ink well feature of the invention. At its middle upper portion tube-6 is provided with an upwardly extending open top cup 7 adapted to present a dipping opening for the pen.

At each opposite end, the tubing-is closed, as at 8, 8, beyond which is a short extension 9 connected by its terminal 10 with a short spiral spring 11. Said spring is connected by atermina'l loop withaholding hook or pin 12 at eachextreme opposite endlof the base;2,-as clearly shown in :F igs. 1 and 2.

intervening between the middle cup 7 and each closed end 8 is -a longitudinally movableabutment 13 adapted to be shifted inwardly or outwardly toward the middle or end, for the purpose of taking up the ink holding space as the ink is gradually depleted in use. Abutment 13 is slidably mounted by an arm 14 and an embracing slide terminal 15 on the-longitudinal strip or bar l6. Said bar ismountedalong the rear upper surface of-thebasein any suitable way, as by screws 17, and provides a comparatively stiff holding bar forthe abutmen-ts, upon which they may be shifted in either direction.

be in the form of set screws, by whichthe abutment 13 may be positively located in any desired position by tighteningthe set screw against theba'r 16.

Ba'r16 is spaced above the top-surface of the base 2 for the major portion of its length, as' from a-bent-or'shouldered portion 19 at'one end to a similar point 19 at the other end. By such construction the bar is thus slightly elevated above the surface, as stated, and with a c crtaindegrec ofresiliency, leaving just sufficient or less space between the bar and the surface of-thefbase for insertion of a sheet of blotting paper 20,

as in 4.

Such blotter, as thus mounted, extends rearwardly of theibase and slightly upwardly if desired, so as to be capable of use in the manner of a blotterby simply pressing it downwardly over the paper in the usual way, with slight tilting movement of the base.

A further advantage of such construction is that a receiving recess 21 is thus provided longitudinally of the base at its rear for reception of a pen, pencil, or the like, indicated in dotted lines, in the manner of a pen holder.

Referring further to the ink well feature, it will be seen that cup 7 extends upwardly above the main body portion of tube 6 so that the ink contained in the tube need not rise at any time substantially above the main level in the tube. Cup 7 is of just sufiicient size as to diameter and height to provide for easy insertion of a pen point, and may be of the form shown in the principal figures of the drawing, with a rounded edge at the top of the wall.

However, as shown in Fig. 8, the upper edge may be downwardly turned inside the cup, as at 22, providing an annular cavity for entrapping any ink which might possibly flow into the cup in using the base as a ruler or straight edge.

As indicated in Fig. 9, it may be tilted at an angle to lie against the sloping page of a book, or in any other manner of use, and elevated at one end or the other.

By means of the adjustable abutments 13, the ink may be gradually crowded or forced toward the middle, as in Fig. 6, as it is used, or the abutments may be extended towards the opposite ends, part way between the ends and the cup, for refilling and then gradually moved inwardly along slide 16.

They may also be adjusted as desired to any position to regulate the ink holding cavity at both sides of the cup. In tilting the base when used as a ruler, as on the in clined page of a ledger, the ink may accommodate itself to the variable volume cavity of the tube, under control of the user.

In the above description of the construction in its simplest form, provision is made by the sliding abutments 13 for increasing or diminishing the longitudinal holding capacity of the ink well tube.

For the purpose of assisting in easy dipping of the pen and ensuring complete immersion of the ink in the well 7, it is sometimes desirable to force the ink temporarily up into the cup 7 For such purpose I have provided depressible buttons or abutments 28, one at each side of the well, adapted to be pressed down against the tube by the linger of the user.

These buttons are pivotally mounted by short holding arms 24 to cross wires 25 which are mounted across the tube and in the base 2 iuthe manner of staples. The cross wires 25 thus perform a double function of forming pivoting mountings for the depressible abutments, and also for holding the tube 6 in position in the groove of the base 2.

When thus mounted and arranged as in Figs. 6 and 7, it will be seen that by ress ing one or the other or both abutments 23 downwardly, the ink will be forced upwardly into the tube sulliciently far to provide a temporary well content for dipping. Upon releasing the abutment, the resiliency of the tube will react, allowing the ink to fall backwardly to the lower level.

It will be understood that the base 2 is of substantial size and weight to insure its stability, and it may be finished in any desired manner as to ornamentation, color ellect, etc.

The device, as a whole, constitutes an extremely useful and labor saving article, ca pable of adaptation in the various ways above described.

It may be made in any desirable size or variation in. design, or otherwise changed by the skilled mechanic, but all such changes are to be understood as within the scope of the following claims:

What I claim is:

l. In an article of the class described, a

base portion having a longitudinal groovc,

and an ink holding resilient tube mounted in the groove having an integral upwardly extending insertion cup and a longitudinally movable tube clamping device.

2. In an article of the class described, a base portion having a longitudinal groove, an ink holding resilient tube mounted in the groove having an upwardly extending pen insertion cup, and a longitudinally movable abutment adapted to be adjustably located lengthwise of the tube to close together..its opposite sides at varying points.

3. In an article of the class described, a base portion having a longitudinal groove, an ink holding resilient tube mounted in the groove having outer closed ends and an intervening pen insertion cup, and means detachably connecting the ends of the tube with the base. I

at. In an article of the class described, a base portion having a longitudinal groove, an ink holding resilient tub-e mounted in the groove having outer closed ends and an intervening pen insertion cup, and elastic means detachably connecting the ends of the tube with the base.

5. I11 an article of the class described, a base portion having a longitudinal groove, an ink holding resilient tube mounted in I the groove having outer closed ends and an intervening pen insertion cup, and a spring at each end of the tubedetachably connecting it with the base.

(S. The combination with a base portion having a longitudinal groove along its upper edge and terminal retaining pins, o1 a rubber tube having closed ends connected by said pins with the base and having a middle insertion cup, a holding bar secured by its ends to the upper face of the llt) base, and an abutment slidably mounted on the bar and engaging the tubing.

7. The combination with a base portion having a longitudinal groove along its upper edge and terminal retaining pins, of a rubber tube having closed ends connected by said pins with the base and having a middle insertion cup, a holding bar secured by its ends to the upper face of the base, and an abutment slidably mounted on the b n and engaging the tubing at each Side or the cup.

8. The combination with a base portion having a longitudinal groove along its upper edge and teri'ninal retaining pins, of

a rubber tube having closed ends connected by said pins with the base and having a middle insertion cup, a holding bar secured by its ends to the upper face of the base, and an abutment slidably mounted on the bar and engaging the tubing and having a grasping device by which the abutment may be secured to the bar at varying posi tions.

9. The combination with a base portion having a longitudinal groove along its upper edge and terminal retaining pins, of a rubber tube having closed ends connected by said pins with the base and having a middle insertion cup, a holding bar secured by its ends to the upper face of the base providing a longitudinal slightly resilient strip spaced above the surface of the base, and clamping abutments for the tube slidably mounted on the bar adapted to be shifted along and. to compress the tube at.

for the tube slidably mounted on the bar and adapted to compress the tube at varying positions.

11. The combination with a grooved base, of an ink holding resilient tube mounted in the groove having outer closed ends and an intervening pen insertion cup, and a depressible abutment pivotally mounted across the tube, adapted to be depressed to force ink upwardly into the cup.

12. The combination with a ruler base having a longitudinal groove and an ink holding resilient tube mounted in the groove having outer closed ends, means connecting the ends with the base, longitudinally mounted abutments for depressing the tube, and upper pivotally mounted abutments having cross holding staples embracing and securing the tube to the ruler base.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOEL ORTH. 

